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 Since
the days of Tom Browns schooldays when people were toasted
in front of open fires there has been bullying. Hardly surprisningly there is no criminal offence of bullying.
There is the protection from harassment act 1997, but nothing
that covers bullying. Whilst the law has no influence on bullying
the UDW certainly does. The UDW will not tolerate condone
or allow bullying in the workplace. The workplace has gradually
seen a reduction in the amount of overt harassment, but the
bullies have just become more controlled. The main purpose
of bullying is to hide inadequacy, but anyone who chooses
to bully is in fact admitting their inadequacy, and the extent
to which a person bullies is a measure of that inadequacy.
Bullies
also project those inadequacies onto others...
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To
avoid facing up to their own inadequacy and doing something
about it. |
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To
avoid accepting responsibility for their behaviour and
the effect it has on others. |
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To
reduce their fear of being seen for what they are, namely
a weak and incompetent individual, and... |
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To
divert attention away from their own inadequacies –
in an insecure or badly managed workplace this is how
inadequate, incompetent and aggressive employees keep
their jobs.
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Are
you being bullied at work?
The
fact is that you may not even know. Workers are very often
bullied by a senior operative, Co workers, subordinates, or
even customers. Bullying often tends to be an accumulation
of many small ,often trivial incidents, over a long period
of time, rather than a one off run in with a colleague.
Bullying
can be anything from, and including,
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Unnescessary
fault finding, of a trivial nature |
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A
constant refusal to acknowledge you or your achievments |
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Being
denied training necessary for you to fulfill your duties |
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Being
set impossible tasks |
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Constant
attempts to undermine you and your position, status, worth,
value and potential |
How
do I recognise a bully?
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Jekyll
& Hyde nature - vicious and vindictive in private,
but innocent and charming in front of witnesses... no-one
can (or wants to) believe this individual has a vindictive
nature - only the current target sees both sides. |
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Is
a convincing, compulsive liar and when called to account,
will make up anything spontaneously to fit their needs
at that moment |
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Displays
a compulsive need to criticise whilst simultaneously refusing
to acknowledge, value and praise others. |
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Has
an overbearing belief in their qualities of leadership
but cannot distinguish between leadership (maturity, decisiveness,
assertiveness, trust and integrity) and bullying (immaturity,
impulsiveness, aggression, distrust and deceitfulness)
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Uses
lots of charm and is always plausible and convincing when
peers, superiors or others are present; the motive of
the charm is deception and its purpose is to compensate
for lack of empathy |
How
do I stop a bully?
The
first step is to identify to your UDW representative that
there is a problem. They will ask you to outline the incidents
and to keep a record or diary of all incidents. Most
companys have policies
in place, which are aimed at preventing harassment at work.
These policies can be adapted and used to prevent you from
being bullied. The company will only act upon evidence. If
you have no evidence, trying to protect yourself could be
difficult. The UDW can help to identify what is mismanagement
or competency problems and what forms bullying. Even in non
recognised workplaces employers are duty bound to consult
the workforce on health and safety issues and the fact is,
bullying can endanger your health. If you do nothing, for
your own sake think of others. It is very rare for bullies
to have only one victim. There may be others in your
workplace who are also suffering in silence. Contact the UDW
Here who will be able to advise and support you in stopping a workplace
bully.
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